Seismic vulnerability assessment of precast post-tensioned segmental bridge piers subject to far-fault ground motions

Ahmadi, Ehsan and Kashani, Mohammad M. (2021) Seismic vulnerability assessment of precast post-tensioned segmental bridge piers subject to far-fault ground motions. Structures, 34. pp. 2566-2579. ISSN 2352-0124

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Abstract

Precast post-tensioned segmental (PPS) bridge piers mitigate global and local damages of bridge structures through natural hinges (joints between their segments) and rocking motion of their segments. The application of the PPS piers is currently growing in Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) where the segments are manufactured offsite with higher quality, and are assembled onsite in a short time. Structural vulnerability analysis of the PPS piers is very essential in extending their engineering implementation under seismic loading. Thus, this work particularly focuses on seismic vulnerability assessment of the PPS piers. To achieve this goal, a previously developed and experimentally validated robust Finite Element model of the PPS piers in OpenSees programme is used to analyse PPS piers of various aspect ratios. An equivalent reinforced concrete (RC) pier to one of the PPS piers is also analysed. Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA) is performed and fragility curves are generated to evaluate seismic performance of the PPS piers and an equivalent RC pier using a suite of 44 far-fault ground motions. The IDA results show that slenderising the PPS pier tends to change the failure criterion from the yielding of the post-tensioning tendon to the strength loss of the pier. For squat and slender piers, the yielding of the tendon governs the failure of the pier while the strength of very slender PPS piers drops due to second-order effects at small drift values prior to the yielding of the post-tensioning tendon. It is also found from fragility curves that squat piers are more prone to seismic collapse compared to slender piers. The equivalent RC pier reaches slight and medium damage states in lower intensity measures compared to the PPS pier.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1016/j.istruc.2021.09.041
Dates:	Date Event 9 September 2021 Accepted 20 September 2021 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Precast post-tensioned segmental columns; accelerated bridge construction; incremental dynamic analysis; far-fault ground motions; seismic performance assessment
Subjects:	CAH10 - engineering and technology > CAH10-01 - engineering > CAH10-01-07 - civil engineering
Divisions:	Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment > College of Built Environment
Depositing User:	Ehsan Ahmadi
Date Deposited:	16 Nov 2021 10:22
Last Modified:	20 Jun 2024 11:45
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/12416

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